More Breaking Tension stuff

[RicB]

Hi any and all interesteds..

Been doing some more poking around on the net and came across this 
paragraph in a user manual for a dutch spreadsheet/program for 
calculating scales (unwound only).

Thought the numbers here might be interesting.

    "The percentage in the column “% load” gives the ratio of string
    tension to 75% of the tensile strength of the steel wire as
    mentioned in worksheet “steel wire”.

    Beneath “Adjustment” calculated gauges can be changed. Furthermore
    for each unison the material of string wire can be changed in column
    "mat." by choosing the number which matches the wire. This does not
    alter the results beneath “Calculated”. Changes of gauges and/or the
    kind of wire have consequences for string tension, inharmonicity,
    load and stretch. An increase of the string diameter increases the
    string mass and string tension, but it also increases energy
    transfer to bridge and soundboard, by which loudness increases and
    afthersound decreases.

    String load can be used as an indication of correct string tension:
    the higher the load the better the sound. According to U. Laible
    string load has to be between 45% and 85%. His calculations are
    based on Röslau wire. When Pure Sound string material is used the
    lower limit may be lower than that because it is more flexible than
    Röslau.

    Inharmonicity is a distinctive characteristic of pianos. It can be
    used to determine sound quality. One has to bear in mind that
    inharmonicity is not bad by definition and that the calculated value
    of inharmonicity is based on the properties of the steel wire only.
    The high values for the highest strings deserve little attention not
    only because their higher partials die quickly but also because
    stiffness of these strings is to high in proportion to string
    tension for the formula used."

Cheers
RicB